Karen Reddick, Editor & Author’s Assistant

As an editor for mostly self-published authors, I often give out complimentary sample edits and price quotes to those requesting my services. I think it’s a nice way to let the client know what they can expect and how much their project will cost. Most of the time, though, the author will be shocked at my quoted price. They’ll love the edits, but because most writers believe their manuscript is already perfect, they can’t believe how much it actually costs to professionally edit a book.

Now I’m going to focus on the operative word here: professionally. Sure, it’s easy to produce a book that your Aunt Sue proofread, after all, she is an English major, but to produce a high-quality, error-free book is a whole other story.

Take this recent post from the Chronicle of Higher Education blog (May 2, 2008):

“Princeton U. Press Recalls Typo-Filled Book and Says It Will Reprint
Princeton University Press has recalled all copies of one of its spring titles after discovering more than 90 spelling and grammar errors in the 245-page work. The book, Cop in the Hood: My Year Policing Baltimore’s Eastern District, by Peter Moskos, was published on Thursday in an initial press run of 4,000 copies.”
(Link to full story
http://chronicle.com/news/article/4427/princeton-u-press-recalls-typo-filled-book-and-says-it-will-reprint#comment)

Yikes! Ninety spelling and grammar errors in 245 pages! What happened here was a clear case of cutting corners and what can happen when an author (or publisher) doesn’t make the necessary financial commitment to create a book that sells. In the long run, the author and/or the publisher pays for it in the end.

I will preach and preach until I’m all preached out: Don’t skimp on one of the most important steps in producing your book–editing and proofreading!

Happy Writing!- Karen Reddick, The Red Pen Editor

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We may think of towing (or pulling) a boat or cord, when we hear the idiom “towing the line,” but this phrase is actually called, “toeing the line” and means to touch a mark or line with the toe or hands in readiness for the start of a race or competition.

GRAMMAR TIPS from The Red Pen Editor

Many compounds may be formed with re-, which means anew, as in rebuild; or back, as in react; or when used as an intensive, as in refine. It all comes down to readability, structure, and often, pronunciation.

GRAMMAR TIPS from The Red Pen Editor

Just as there is widespread belief that you should not end a sentence with a preposition, there is also no historical or grammatical foundation that you should not begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction.

GRAMMAR TIPS from The Red Pen Editor

Who started the “rule” that you can’t end a sentence with a preposition? After exhaustive Internet research and emails with many of my editorial colleagues, I could come up with many different theories for where this rule came from, but no one could tell me why this antiquated grammar rule still exists.

Some common, simple and compound prepositions include: as, at, by, for, from, in, of, on, to, with; and, about, after, between, onto, throughout, until, without. Just to name a few.

GRAMMAR TIPS from The Red Pen Editor

Then and than are commonly confused when writing. Then is used as a time expression and can be a noun, adverb, or adjective depending on the sentence structure. Than is used as a comparison and is commonly a conjunction, but can also be used as a preposition.

GRAMMAR TIPS from The Red Pen EditorExamples using then:
I was younger then.
I watched the late night news and then went to bed.
He lost the election, but then we never expected him to win.
If you’re always late, then you better go now.
Until then, let’s stay here.
It’ll take all his strength and then some.

Are you reading aloud or out loud? Are you speaking out loud or aloud?

This is one of those word usage rules that falls under the term: semantics; they really mean the same thing. Out loud is basically the colloquial equivalent of aloud.

aloud and out loud are both adverbs that mean “in a loud tone; with the voice; orally.”

(Lexington, KY, USA) March 6, 2007 – Outsourcing organization,
RemoteProfessionals.com, Inc.,  (http://www.RemoteProfessionals.com) will
present an online mini-conference for independent workers on April 17th,
2008. The mini-conference will contain two tracks, one for new virtual
workers and one for long-term offsite providers, and will be held from 9:30
am to 1:45 pm (EST).

Speakers will cover topics including: How to secure clients, how to release
clients, managing and billing time, business blogging, creating and online
presence and website review. Speakers include:

Tiffanie Lyon of lyonsalesinstitute.com, is a published author, trainer and
speaker who inspires non-traditional sales people to accomplish effective
self-promotion and promote their small and home-based businesses for a larger
market share.

Marsha Kopan of execsecsrv.com, a 10-year veteran of the virtual assistance
industry who has served on numerous professional boards and committees and
runs a successful VA practice specializing in association management and
paralegal services.

Anna Baron of thevirtuallink.com, is an 11-year veteran of the VA industry who
specializes in web design and Internet marketing for the Real estate
industry. She has appeared in multiple industry publications and has mentored
and coached beginning virtual assistants for over five years. 

Karen Reddick, MVA of vandeservices.com and redpeneditor.com has been a
virtual assistant for six years and is a professional author’s assistant
helping authors, editors and publishing executives.  Her business has been
featured on NBC’s Today Show. Karen publishes a weekly newsletter,
podcasts “Red Hot Grammar Tips,” and is an author in her own right.

Mike Price of MLBroadcast.com is a veteran web technologist who helps his
clients use Web 2.0 platforms to improve visibility, enhance presentation and
deliver cutting edge information on the Internet. Mike specializes in
assisting real estate industry professionals to use podcasting, web video,
blogging and social networking to capture a wider market share.

Andrea Pixley of AndreaPixley.com has been in business for over eight years
and is one of the most recognized names in the Virtual Assistant Industry
(Just Google “virtual assistant”). Andrea specializes in website and customer
services and manages a resource website to assist military families like her
own.

Two of the mini-conference sessions will be hands-on workshops, limited to ten
participants. Non-workshop classes will host a larger audience. When session
space is limited, participants will be registered on a first-come, first
served basis. Classes may be taken individually or a full-day discounted pass
may be purchased. For more information, or to register for the event, visit
http://www.RemoteProfessionals.com/ or call 888-890-8226.

About RemoteProfessionals.com:
RemoteProfessionals.com is a professional networking organization for
outsourcing professionals. Our members are dedicated to providing exemplary
service, promoting outsourcing workstyles, supporting peer providers, and
supporting clients worldwide without geographic limitations.

I was editing two separate manuscripts when I came across the word blond in one and blonde in the other. I had never really given this word much thought before seeing it spelled differently by these two writers.

A quick check in the dictionary educated me that, although both of these words basically have the same meaning, they are different.blond is mostly used to describe a color (i.e., fair skin or hair or a light-colored wood), and when used as an adjective may be used to describe both sexes.

Boy my head must have really been in the clouds last week when I wrote the tip about using was vs. were. I was so focused on the past/present tense of the pronouns (I, he, she, they) that I clearly missed the subjunctive mood of the verb.Thanks to my grounded readers for pointing out what I missed, and I apologize for totally confusing others.

GRAMMAR TIPS from The Red Pen EditorThe subjunctive mood of the verb is used to communicate feelings of things that aren’t real or true, such as wishfulness or imagination. One of the key elements in deciding whether to use I were or I was is whether the statement is wishful, true, or imagined.